Tuesday 10-11:45 am or Wednesday 10:30 am-12:15 pm

Lab Instructor: Laura Shiels

Office: St. John 411b

Email: weissL@hawaii.edu (this is the BEST way to reach me)

Office Phone: (808) 956-3931 (do not assume I receive messages here--you must reach me directly)

Office Hours: Monday 12-1 pm or by appointment

 

In this course you will be introduced to new perspectives and ways of thinking as you explore the myriad of interactions between people and plants.  This course is hands-on, so please come prepared to use your hands and minds, to share stories, ideas, foods, etc.  Some things you should know about this course:

 

1) We will be doing a lot of potentially messy activities.  Please read through the lab schedule and make sure this is the right course for you.  We will be gardening, using plant dyes, making leis, etc.  I highly recommend keeping an outfit in class you can change into that you do not mind getting dirty.  

 

2) The materials for this class are posted online, on this website.  You should check this website FREQUENTLY for any updates, especially if you miss class.  You can also order a lab manual containing all this information at Professional Image (near King and University next to Kokua market) or download it here: Bot 105 lab manual Fall 2009.  If you do not completely understand what is expected of you, what your assignments are, when they are due, and how you are graded, please come talk to me.  This is your online lab manual: Bot 105 Weekly Lab Schedule & Assignments

 

3) I highly encourage you to bring in and share foods you have prepared, and several of the lab assignments require you to do this.  If you are concerned about the cost involved, think of creative ways to not spend $ on the task (Foraging?  Cooking together with another student?).  You can talk to me for ideas if you like.  You will not be required to eat or taste anything in class, but it is encouraged.  Please bring in a set of re-usable eating tools to keep in the classroom so we can avoid waste (cup, bowl, plate, fork or chopsticks). 

 

4) You should expect to feel challenged in this class, but it should also be a lot of fun.  Participation and preparation is a huge part of your grade.  You will be asked to bring items into class, to read articles and write paragraphs, to visit places and interview people outside of class, etc.  You will be expected to critically think and discuss about readings and experiences.  I will return your homework assignment and participation grades to you weekly so you will know what grade you are earning in lab.  You should come talk to me if you are concerned about your grade and would like to know what you need to do to improve it.  PLEASE BRING IN THE ITEMS REQUESTED OF YOU EACH WEEK.

 

5) There will be some limited extra credit options offered in class by me.  These may include, for example, maintaining and regularly watering our class garden, volunteering at the Kava Festival, or volunteering with a local woodcarver on culturally oriented sustainability activities.  Please come talk to me EARLY in the semester if you are interested in such extra credit opportunities. 

 

6) You will have a final class project due the week of Dec 7--please take this seriously and do not wait until the last minute to work on it.  You should be working on it at least a little bit every week (anticipate spending at least 30 hours on it).  Choose something fun that you will enjoy working on and learning about! 

 

7) If you have a learning disability for which you would like accommodations, please contact me early in the semester.  Additional support can be provided through the KOKUA program on campus.

 

8) No exams

 

9) We will all learn from each other in this lab, not just students from instructor.  We all have different experience, knowledge, and perspectives which we can contribute to the class.  Please feel invited to share your stories and insights on our theme topics each week and to ask questions of your classmates. 

 

40%  Class preparation and participation (attendance, read and critically think about articles, bring items to class, discuss readings

         and observations in class, participate in hands-on activities)  (10 pts each week)

30%  Homework (10 pts each unless otherwise specified)

30%  Final Project (10 pts topic sentence, 40 pts proposal outline, 100 pts final presentation (and product if applicable))